Revealing Revelation - Who Is Worthy?

Since we have already seen that the seven sealed scroll is an indictment of some sort against apostate Israel, John then realizes that someone had to be worthy enough to open this judgment and introduce the verdict that is to follow.

Rev 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

6And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain,

Who is worthy?

The easy is answer is Jesus Christ.

But more must be said in this quick post about the worthiness of Christ. The worthiness goes beyond His deity and His ability to live a perfect life. Not only must He be seen as perfect and without sin, the actions that caused this judgment to be held up against apostate Israel, must have impacted this worthy one directly as well.

As one who was slain (as pictured in this passage) by the Jewish leadership, Jesus Christ shares in the same grievance as those who we will later find under the altar crying out to be avenged. But He is even more worthy because His death was directly for those that killed Him. His death was the ultimate injustice as He was perfect and sinless.

This is so attached to the passages in Matthew 21 through 23 that it simply should not be missed.

The Vineyard Parable -

Matt 21:43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

The Wedding Feast

Matt 22:7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

The Seven Woes

Matt 23:34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

Only Jesus could be worthy to unseal this document and, in doing so, pronounce this declaration or verdict against the guilty. In Matthew 24 the judgment is seen as the soon coming destruction of their city and temple. This is exemplified in the book of Revelation. In both cases though, it is the Christ who pronounces the judgment!

Note how the lamb is also seen as a Lion. He is described as a Lamb because of His sacrifice and not because of His gentleness. In fact, He is the Lion!

This worthiness is followed by the second scene of worship…

Next we will consider the seven seals and to best understand the number of seals and how to understand them as they are opened.